Submersible pump and motor rotation indication circuit

ABSTRACT

This patent addresses a need to be able to tell in which direction of rotation an electric motor is turning when connected to a pump, and in particular, a submersible pump where the direction of the motor shaft is not installed where visual observance of the direction of rotation is possible. This patent covers the modification of any existing motors or pumps to include any device, circuit, or change to sense, measure, or pick up the direction of rotation of an electric pump or motor for the purpose of knowing the direction the motor or pump is turning when operating or bumped for observation. 
     It is appreciated that there may be ways to sense, transmit, store, or measure the direction of rotation of a pump or motor other than in the embodiments described above, however this patent application is not limited to the embodiments above but cover and include the spirit and intent of the invention as defined in the claims above.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A three phase electric motor may be operated in either direction ofrotation. When initially powered for operation, it is not always knownin which direction of rotation the electric motor will initially turn.After the initial rotation of an electric motor is determined fromobservation the direction of rotation may be changed by swapping any twoof the incoming three power supply phases. This then reverses therotation of direction of a three phase electric motor.

When an electric motor is used to operate a pump, the direction ofrotation of the pump and motor must be verified as correct for operationas recommended by the pump manufacturer. Failure to verify the correctdirection of rotation of the pump may result in damage to the pump ifthe pump is operated in the wrong direction of rotation. At a minimum,operation of a centrifugal pump while rotating the wrong direction willresult in less performance than as originally designed to provide.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

With the use of a three phase electric submersible motor coupled to pumpcomponents, and while the entire assembled pump and motor are located oroperating partially or totally submerged in the liquid pumped, thedirection of rotation of the pump impeller is not easily determined asto the correct rotation of rotation as intended by the pump componentmanufacturer.

This patent covers a way to verify the rotation of a three phaseelectric motor while coupled to a pump and used in a submerged, or nonsubmerged application for ease of verifying the correct rotation of thepump impeller so as to change the rotation if necessary to preventdamage to the pump or to improve the operation of the pump performance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure One: Figure One shows a typical submersible motor with the motorwinding, stator, bearings, and other components all assembled inside ahousing which is water proof for operation of a pump under liquid. Forthe pump to operate as designed very often the direction of rotationmust be specific, either clock wise, or counter clock wise. Figure Oneshows the typical mounting arrangement of the electric motor rotationsensor on the motor shaft. Shown are a typical rotating sensor halfmounted on the motor shaft and a stationary sensor half mounted closelyto the motor shaft. The rotating motor shaft sensor transmits a signalto the stationary sensor which conveys the signal through wires out ofthe motor and up a power cable to a controller mounted out of the sumpfluid. The signals are used to indicate the direction of rotation and ifthe direction of rotation of the motor shaft is wrong, the motor can beinstantly shut down after initially starting up.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This patent applies to the use of a sensor attached near the motor shaftof an electric motor that is driving a pump. The sensor shall by thedirection of the motor shaft be able to close or open a circuit, or senda signal that would be transmitted by wires out of the submersible pumpto a controller or relay that would be used to shut down the pump if therotation is the wrong direction, or indicate the wrong direction as alight or signal so the direction of rotation of the pump may be changedto correct as defined by the pump manufacturer. The sensor mounted nearthe shaft could be of the magnetic type that by means of multiplecontacts located on the motor shaft must be closed in a certain order toindicate the direction of rotation of the motor shaft. If the motor wereto run in a reverse direction the sensors would close in an order todetermine that the motor shaft is running in a reverse direction. Thesecircuits when connected would then be used to prevent the motor powersupply from energizing the motor when connected to a relay inconjunction with the motor starter if the motor is turning in anundesired direction of rotation. The direction of rotation signal may beused to shut down a pump, send an indicating signal to a remoteoperator, or indicate the direction of rotation of the submersible pumpmotor.

The stationary sensor (Figure One D1) mounted around the motor shaft(Figure One D2) can also be an LED circuit, for example, poweredexternal to the motor which upon rotation of the motor shaft, and withpick up triggers on the motor shaft, would send a signal back up throughwires to a controller mounted external to the submersible pump sump ofoperation.

This patent applies to any means of picking up and transmitting thedirection of rotation of a submersible pump motor to a controller remoteto the pump and motor, or a controller mounted inside the pump or motorwhich then forwards the signal for use in indicating, monitoring, andusing the direction of rotation signal as pertains to the operatingdirection of a pump.

1. A submersible pump which includes an electric motor (Figure One) foruse partially or totally submerged in or under a fluid, connected to apump comprised of a pump housing, or volute, and an impeller whichincorporate a pump inlet to the pump housing and impeller and a pumpoutlet for the purpose of discharging the fluid in which the pump andmotor are operating where the direction of the rotation of the pump mustbe specific as recommended by the pump manufacturer.
 2. The applicationof this patent applies to a manufacturer who either produces just thepump, or just a submersible motor, or both the pump and the submersiblemotor.
 3. A submersible motor (Figure One) driving a pump which includesa device to sense the rotation of the motor shaft (Figure One D1 and D3)driving the pump, whether the motor shaft (Figure One D2) is one piecewith the pump or of a separate piece driving a pump and which includes arotating sensor (Figure One D3) on the motor shaft (Figure One D2) and astationary sensor (Figure One D1) located near the motor shaft for thepurpose of taking an external power supply, or of creating its own powersupply, and taking a signal from an external source or creating its ownsignal and transmitting the signal to outside the submersible pump/motorfor the purpose of using the signal to sense, use, or indicate thedirection of rotation of the submersible motor/pump shaft. The sensingof the direction of rotation may also be accomplished by a stationarysensor, powered or non powered, which senses the direction of rotationof the motor and pump shaft by a signal from the motor or pump shaftitself, whether by the metallurgy involved, an electrical or magneticfield created, or by a mechanical tripping, or mechanical indication ofthe direction of rotation of the pump and motor shaft from an insertinto the motor shaft or attached to the rotating motor shaft.
 4. Asubmersible motor/pump which includes a sensor (Figure One D1, D3) toindicate the direction of rotation of the motor/pump shaft so that theperformance of the pump will be as designed by the pump partsmanufacturer and which sensor circuit will be used so that the pump willonly be operated in one direction to prevent damage to the pumpcomponents if the direction of rotation is not that as designed by thepump component manufacturer.
 5. A submersible motor/pump whichincorporates a circuit to be used for the purpose of directionindication as the motor and pump to be used are partially or completelyunder a fluid and the direction of rotation of the pump or motor cannotbe observed to verify that the direction of rotation is as desired foroperation of the motor and pump.